Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
> __/ [ Jamie Hart ] on Tuesday 22 May 2007 11:17 \__
>
>> Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
>> news:1209798.iBXiHN6XN2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
>>
>>> __/ [ thad05@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ] on Sunday 20 May 2007 07:29
>>> \__
>>>
>>>> Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>> Showing interest - The myth that Linux is hard to use and expensive
>>>>> to maintain is changing.
>>>>>
>>>>> ,----[ Quote ]
>>>>> | Many have observed that open source platforms such as Linux are
>>>>> | more secure, and the amount of maintenance required is
>>>>> | comparatively less.
>>>>> `----
>>>>
>>>> The myth that seems the slowest to die is the idea that Linux
>>>> requires lots of twiddling of text config files, downloading and
>>>> compiling of source code, and in general is a geeks only OS. Of
>>>> course you and I know that with modern distros and package
>>>> managers that is no longer true... but old impressions die
>>>> slowly. I've found that the easiest way to convince someone is
>>>> to just sit them in front of a real Linux box and SHOW them how
>>>> easy it is to find and install apps.
>>>
>>> It (sort of) upsets me sometimes when people prepare Ubuntu Linux
>>> tutorials which use apt-get and other command line utilities. Why do
>>> they do this? Because it's quicker and its makes some people look more
>>> sophisticated (or maybe they target a particular audience). At the
>>> same time, this gives the wrong impression to those exploring Linux
>>> from afar or search the Web for a solution. The GUI is right there, so
>>> it's a bit like showing someone how 'easy' Java is by demonstrating an
>>> assembly code-like library for programming. Luckily, many tutorials
>>> nowadays as available as videos. The pipes of the Web help a lot.
>>>
>> The reason they tend to use command line methods is that it's less prone
>> to misunderstanding.
>>
>> Saying:
>>
>> "Type: apt-get install xchat"
>>
>> is easier and less prone to problems than:
>>
>> "Click on the menu, go to the system sub menu and click on synaptic,
>> then click on the search button at the bottom left corner of the window
>> that appears, then type xchat in the search box and press enter. When
>> the xchat package is shown, click on it and then click on the install
>> button."
>>
>> BTW, I don't use Ubuntu or apt-get so some, all or more of the above may
>> be innacurate.
>
> No, it's correct. There are indeed less ambiguities when it comes to the CLI
> and in the case of Linux (with so many distros and versions), a lot tends to
> be universal (package managers being a poor example).
This is complete rubbish.
A well written guide to using a well designed GUI leaves little room for
ambiguity or error.
It's why GUI's are considered useful. And its why standards exist. Its
also where LInux distros have been targetting a lot of effort recently -
consistency of look and feel in Gnome/KDE.
Synaptic in particular has some great facilities not least searching,
grouping, ordered sorting of results lists, browsing linked resources
and versions without the need to remember command line syntax.
The command line can be useful when you know the name of the package
involved and just want to simply
sudo apt-get install myapp
--
#if _FP_W_TYPE_SIZE < 32
#error "Here's a nickel kid. Go buy yourself a real computer."
#endif
-- linux/arch/sparc64/double.h
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